A few things I forgot about CHIC

One is that we packaged food for the organization Feed My Starving Children, and it was wonderful. I sat at a table and labeled food bags, which I'm thankful for. I am glad that I didn't bag the food itself, because I would have cried, I'm sure. The small bags we were making contained 6 meals, and will probably be the only things the recipients will eat. Every day. All the time. I wouldn't have wanted to eat it! I know that it was designed to be nutritionally balanced, but it smelled like dried soup for camping (it basically is that, with rice) and I realize that I actually have the choice to not eat that. I'm overweight because I can eat whatever I want. Watch the video on their site to see pictures of kids before and after receiving this food. In the two hours that we were packing food, we packaged something like 15,000 meals. It was amazing. Why don't you donate or buy a shirt?

The other thing that was great was the rain. We Californians don't get summer rain, and we mostly don't get thunderstorms at all, so it was wonderful to have thunder and lightening and lots of rain. I got caught in our biggest storm, and it was fine with me. I was on the other side of campus, trying to get a free massage for the adult leaders, when I had to head back to meet with my girls before dinner. It was raining very hard, and at first that wasn't great because it wasn't too hot out, for once. Thankfully, I was wearing my Tevas, so I was fine to run in the rain. I ran, with occasional stops at bus shelters or awnings to wipe my face off a bit. I've never run in a thunderstorm before, and it was quite fun. I was soaked to the bone, though- bra, underwear, everything. The only dry parts were two little spots on the back of my shorts that were protected by the overhang of my bodacious booty. LOL!

Natural Cure for Insomnia that Works

A difficulty in falling asleep and maintaining good sleep is how doctors describe insomnia. It is a symptom, not a disease or a diagnosis. The average person will experience insomnia once in their lifetime with up to 50 percent of people in the world suffering from it at one time or another for more than a few nights.

Many people do not like to take medications to help them sleep and look towards a more natural cure for insomnia. There are many things you can do to promote sleep, alleviate stress and reduce stimulation, the two major causes of insomnia.

One tried and true natural cure for insomnia is to drink warm milk before bed time. An alternative to milk is a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water or straight up. You could even eat a very light carbohydrate snack. 5-HTP delivered from tryptophan such as that found in turkey, is an amino acid that will help you fall asleep. 5-HTP boosts levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps to regulate sleep. Other foods that might contribute to a good nights sleep are starchy foods such as grains, potatoes, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and oatmeal. However, you do not want to go to bed on a full stomach. These items should be eaten in moderation, as a light snack before bed. All of these methods should help you to gain a good night sleep and help you feel rested in the morning.

Don"t like milk? Drink herbal teas like passionflower, skullcap, lavender, valerian, California poppy, St. Johns Wart, hops and chamomile which all have sedative properties that can help your mind and body ready itself for sleep. Most can be found at health food stores and should be sipped about an hour before turning in at night.

Getting enough vitamins is another essential ingredient to a natural cure for insomnia. Several different B vitamins have been shown to reduce insomnia so a B complex vitamin would be a good choice taken daily would help with your insomnia. Other vitamins include magnesium, zinc and calcium has long been known to calm the nervous system which will help you fall asleep.

Melatonin is a natural occurring, sleep inducing hormone in the brain. Although some people may lack the ability to produce this and that may be a cause of their insomnia. Scientists have discovered a way to duplicate this naturally and without any side effects, it is a natural cure for insomnia. The recommended dosage is between 0.3 to 3 milligrams per night.

Some people believe in magnetic therapy and sleep with negative magnets on a magnetic pad either all over their bed or around their head. However, it can be difficult to calibrate the exact amount of magnets, the strength and the positioning needed to help be a natural cure for insomnia.

Avoiding caffeine after 2 pm and exercising early in the day are good advice and will help work together with the above suggestions for a natural cure for insomnia.


Autor: Paul Haughney

Paul Hockney suffered from Insomnia for many years. Having researched Insomnia Treatment he eventually found a cure that worked. Find Free Advice and Natural Sleep Aid reviews from Paul at http://www.HelpSleepProblems.com

Added: July 31, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Natural-Cure-for-Insomn~

CHIC

This is the first of 2 posts about my 2 weeks of mayhem. Both were great, but there's a lot to tell. The next post will cover our vacation.

Week 1: CHIC (Covenant High In Christ)- the triennial youth conference for our denomination. This was my first time attending, and it did not disappoint. Well, I would have liked to bond a little bit more with my girls, but oh well.

We all had our fabulous matching t-shirts at the airport bright & early on Saturday morning, so that we could more easily keep track of our group of 42. (This picture was taken on our last day, waiting for the flight home. Thanks, Susie.) The CHIC logo is the weird yellow thing, so our staff designed PacMan themed shirts because of the resemblance.

After hanging out at the airport for quite a while, we boarded our plane to Nashville, with all of us taking up the rear of the plane. I was in the very back row with a girl who had never flown before and one of my sweet girls who brings nothing on flights with her because she wants to talk. (And I complain about not bonding!) We tease each other about that.

We rented minivans in Nashville & spend the night in town, taking over a local restaurant for dinner, followed by the swarming of the hotel pool. The next day, we drove to Knoxville, which was a beautiful drive to a cute town.

We stayed in dorms, which were fine. All the kids roomed together, and adults roomed together. That was nice. The campus is HUGE and Tennessee is HOT, so there was weight loss, for sure. Lots of sweating and walking. Even at 8 in the morning, we were sweaty. I love the South, but I'm glad I live in CA where there's dry heat.

Each day consisted of breakfast in a nearby dorm, followed by 2 group sessions somewhere else on campus dealing with the topics of relating to yourself, to God, to the World, and to Others. Most of them were very good. One dealt with faking it and putting on masks, another was a great worship session that felt very real & jam-like. Another had an exercise about judging people that was good, and there was also a day educating us on human trafficking (there is a LOT of it. Seriously).

The afternoons were filled with free time for the kids to do anything they wanted, including a number of excursions. There were sports tournaments of all kinds, chess, crafts, swimming, water slides, bowling, bands playing outside. It was great. I mostly wandered with Susie (blue tank top on the left above), and sometimes tried to take a nap. One day, though, I did run into town (really, I ran. It was hot.) to buy Harry Potter tickets, as it opened the Wednesday we were there. That afternoon, 20 of us walked/ran into downtown Knoxville to watch the movie, which was a lot of fun. Another afternoon, I went white water rafting with Susie & 3 of the girls, which was great. I had never done it before, and we had a lot of fun, especially laughing at one of our girls falling out of the raft.
The evenings were dinner in the dorm, then Main Stage, which was at the arena. About 8000 people gathered for concerts, worship, and speakers. All the speakers were very good, but I believe that Shane Claiborne was the best, and the kids loved him, too. After you look at his site, you'll say, "Of course you loved the commune-living hippie, Robin!"

We also saw the David Crowder Band, which was more fun than I expected; Flyleaf, which was very loud and I took too long to start dancing and get into it; Israel Houghton & New Breed, which I loved due to nostalgia for his leading worship at Lakewood; and Third Day, who I liked and respected much more than I thought I would do. Also, on the first night, the daughter of our speaker, Erwin McManus, played with her band, Glare of Rockets, which is my new favorite band. (When you listen on myspace, know that live her voice didn't feel so sweet & they were much more dark & wall-of-sound feeling. She's like a mixture of Paramore & Mazzy Starr.)

Some of our students won the short film contest, and the video doesn't appear to be his youtube page, so I'll post it later. It was pretty funny. People learned, cried, bonded, grew. It was good. We were at Main Stage until at least 11pm every night, and ate pizza every night after. Got about 6 hours of sleep or less, sweated, trekked, had a good time. I got a foot massage in the airport before our departing flight, which was lovely. I'll definitely go again, but hopefully, a bunch of us won't get sick next time.

Natural Sleep Aids Uncovered

There are many natural sleep aids that will help you if you have insomnia which is a chronic inability to sleep over a long period of time.

Herbs
Herbal remedies are on the rise and one in particular, valerian has long been used as a natural sleep aid to cure insomnia. Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany all sell this natural herb over the counter.

Exactly how valerian works in the system is a mystery to doctors but they know it works. Some studies propose that it works like other sleep aides in that it affects the calming neurotransmitter, GABA.

Valerian is not addictive like some pharmaceuticals nor does it cause grogginess. It is, however, not without side affects; dizziness, headaches, indigestion and heart palpitations can all occur while taking valerian. And valerian can not be taken with any other medications, particularly sedatives that depress the middle nervous structure.

The human body naturally produces a hormone called Melatonin. The pineal gland makes serotonin in the brain and then it is transformed into melatonin when it is restricted from light.

People with schizophrenia, depression or any serious illness, such as an autoimmune disease should not take melatonin.

An anti-anxiety herb, Kava could be helpful for anxiety related insomnia. Conversely, the FDA - Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to consumers who use any type of products with Kava as a main ingredient because it can cause severe liver damage. There have been cases of severe liver damage in other countries but not here in the US.

Aroma therapy
The sent of many different flowers and essential oils have long been thought to bring about sleep in those who find it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Lavender is one of the most widely used aroma therapy oils for insomnia. Other oils that seem to help are ylang ylang and chamomile.

Acupuncture
A study by the University of Pittsburg suggested that the use of acupuncture maybe an effective cure for insomnia. The study showed that five weeks of acupuncture increased the production of melatonin in the brain during the evening hours and helped the patients fall asleep better.

Exercise
The lack of exercise can contribute to insomnia; however when you exercise can also have become a factor for lack of sleep. Exercising in the morning will help you to feel better throughout the day and help you sleep better at night. Exercising to close to bed time will increase your adrenaline and you will have trouble with your sleep.

Relaxation
Falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer, relaxation techniques are one of the best ways to get a good night sleep.

Visualization
this involves a relaxing scene your mind creates. You must be in bed and try to engross all your senses. Most people pick a tropical island and imagine the sand, sun, the water and just a relaxing time. You can smell the sea water and feel the spray of the ocean on your face. This is a good visualization and will help you relax.


Autor: Paul Haughney

Paul Hockney suffered from Insomnia for many years. Having researched Natural Sleep Aids he eventually found a cure that worked. Find Free Advice and Natural Sleep Aid reviews from Paul at http://www.HelpSleepProblems.com

Added: July 29, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Natural-Sleep-Aids-Unco~

The Road To Understanding Insomnia Starts Here

First off, if you're having trouble sleeping right now and need help, click the links below for some immediate solutions.

Life Sign Sleep Key

Sleep Tracks White Noise Therapy

Ambiatol

Magnetic Therapy Sleep Pad

Apollo Blue Light Therapy

If you're still reading, I thought I would take the time in this post to further help wrap our minds around insomnia. You see, contrary to popular belief, insomnia is a symptom, not a disease. It usually occurs in relation to a variety of medical, psychiatric and physiological disorders. Complaining of insomnia usually means you are upset by the following:

• difficulty falling asleep
• sleeping too lightly
• having multiple spontaneous awakenings
• early awakenings with an inability to fall back to sleep

It is important to assess the timing of insomnia in order to determine its' cause and origin. When you suffer from persistent sleeplessness it is crucial to define exactly how the condition is effecting you, being as specific as possible. This is why it is very important that each patient defines to the best of their ability what he or she means by the term “insomnia”.

Research has found that patients with insomnia show a variety of consistent features. They are more likely to have:

• higher rate of depression and depressive and/or anxiety issues
• longer daytime sleep latency (unable to rest during the day)
• an increased 24 hour metabolic rate
• more night to night variability in their sleep (irregular sleeping patterns)

How Do We Get Insomnia?

Experts believe that there are three main factors that will cause sustained sleeplessness. These are what we call the three P's

1. The Predisposed personality, sometimes including people with a higher than normal rate of neural activity. This can include any combination of the following personality traits:

• anxious
• pessimistic
• emotional hyper-activity
• general stress or tension.

2. A Preceding event, or an event(s) that is outside of the person's control that is the cause of sleep problems. These events are usually easy to spot as changes in our routines caused by anything from a family conflict to surviving an earthquake. Such preceding events could easily include:

• work stress
• financial stress
• health problems
• death in the family
• surviving disaster situations (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, e.t.c...)
• shift work
• *melatonin deficiency

3. The Perpetual practicing insomniac. If you look back at my previous post regarding the condition of somniphobia, you can note from that analysis that a perpetuating insomniac can fall under the category of somniphobe. It develops as a response to sleeplessness, but inevitably ends in prolonging the condition by developing series of thoughts and fears about the insomnia, wherein the subject can “talk” themselves out of a quality rest. Traits of a perpetuating insomniac can include:

• sleeping too early
• staying in bed late
• caffeine
• reactions to sleep medications
• excessive worrying over sleep
• daytime napping

So What Can We Do?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, if you find yourself relating to any of the above criteria, there are certain sleep systems that are available without prescription that can significantly help to combat the problem. Sleep Tracks or Light Therapy will normally help the perpetuating insomniac by allowing a calm, soothing environment. (click the links to examine the systems) Melatonin hybrid preparations like Ambiatol can assist those who have a specific predisposition to insomnia (as eluded to in this post).

Those that find themselves with insomnia due to a preceding event should also use things such as sleeping pads and even a sleep computer to at least have weapons in the battle. However if the conditions of a preceding event are due to a specific traumatic event, it is extremely wise to seek out a diagnosis of emotional health, since PTSD (Post Trauma Stress Disorder) must be ruled out. A combination of therapy and anti-depressant medications will certainly help immensely in dealing with PTSD.

This article was meant to list the variables associated with insomnia, and to provide some natural insomnia cures to assist you in getting a proper rest. It is always most wise to consult a proper sleep clinic with concerns as they become more and more persistent, but in some cases, the products and systems I've listed above can help significantly. You can click on any of the systems to order or examine. I'll end by saying the same thing I've said many times within this site, it is always best to try non-intrusive therapies before resorting to medications.

Get some rest!

A Natural Approach To Insomnia Cures

Most of the masses suffering from sleeping disorders like insomnia are not always ready to take the plunge and get a prescription sleeping aid, either due to the many side effects (outlined in this post), or because they have understated the problem. People often trick themselves into believing insomnia is a condition that can be handled "on their own", using insomnia cures such as warm milk or a hot bath. By doing so they are ignoring that the problem may be a simple physiological issue, and therefore completely beyond their control.

There is one hormone, melatonin, that is naturally produced within our bodies to trigger the sleep cycle. It occurs according to our body clock - or circadian rhythm - and is triggered by the fading daily light. With technology now allowing us to prepare synthetic versions of this hormone, we can now self-administer melatonin to make use of its' many health benefits. Conveniently for this article, one of the health benefits is it's known curative quality for insomnia.

Melatonin is said to have anti aging benefits, and it has also been touted as one of the most powerful non-narcotic solution for fighting against depression and anxiety. These surprising benefits are not endorsed by many medical organizations, due to a limited base of study. Having said that, anything is worth trying once or twice before going down the road to pharmaceuticals. So if you are wondering whether or not melatonin can help you fall asleep, let me do my best to show you how to get the most bang for your buck.

Taking Melatonin

When it comes to taking melatonin you need to be sure that you don’t overdo it, or you will interfere with the body’s own ability to create it. 1 to 3 mg is an optimum dosage, administering every second sleepless night. If you take too much for too long, your body is tricked into believing that melatonin is already in your system, and will shut down its' own natural production. Doctors normally recommend not to ever exceed 5mg of melatonin for more than one dosage, so that your naturally producing melatonin can stay regulated without interruption.

Why Is My Body Not Producing Melatonin?

As I eluded to before, melatonin begins production as light fades, during the normal sleep/wake cycle. The circadian rhythm is roughly a 24 hour cycle, wherein most of our physiological functions complete their daily routines, according to a natural rhythm. This cycle is not exclusive to us. Plants, animals, and even micro-organisms have a natural rhythmic cycle. Having said that, you may wonder why we sometimes fail to produce something that seems as natural as blinking. Outlined below are just a few of the reasons why this happens:

• Exposure to an unnatural level of artificial light.
  
• Using a sun tanning bed after 3pm.
  
• Bright night time activities - such as clubbing, concerts, sports games, e.t.c...
• Night lights, TV's, even low level lamps, when trying to sleep, can have a surprisingly negative effect on your body clock.
• Shift work.
  

In order to combat this attack on your hormones and get a good night's rest, artificially increasing your melatonin with preparations like Alteril or Melatonex (click the links to purchase) can help normalize your production to a standard level, thus regulating your sleeping cycles and patterns. A normalized sleep/wake cycle can go along way to alleviate insomnia symptoms.

Although I mentioned that there is no standardized tests to prove melatonins' worth, in my experience it is a remarkably efficient insomnia cure - in certain cases. In fact there are times when it can seem like a miracle cure, due to it's obvious targeted nature. I can't impress upon you enough to at least try it first as a possible treatment, before rushing to the GP for a prescription solution. It may be that all you need is to normalize your hormones and not ever succumb to the potential dangers and side effects of pharmaceuticals.

How To Naturally Cure Insomnia

Late at night, you go to bed. You closed your eyes but can't seem to fall asleep. You might even try counting sheep, but to no avail. And your mind keeps on working, you keep on thinking on a lot of things. Looking at the clock, you noticed that hours had passed but your still awake.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in 2007, that at least 20 million feel the same thing, experiencing occasional sleeping problems. What is commonly referred to as Insomnia has actually three types: transient insomnia which lasts from days to weeks; acute insomnia lasting for about 3 weeks to 6 months; and chronic insomnia which lasts for years.

Although the situation mentioned above is more common, called as onset insomnia, there are 3 other insomnia patterns. One is known as Middle insomnia, referring to the difficulty of falling asleep when waking in the middle of the night. Waking too early in the morning is another type of insomnia called as terminal insomnia. Another type of insomnia is called middle-of-the-night insomnia which cover both terminal and middle insomnia.

There are a lot of causes for insomnia. A common cause of insomnia would probably be a disease or disorder the person is under. Stress might also make it hard for a person to sleep; so as fear, anxiety or any mental or emotional problems that the person is experiencing. Hormonal shifts also causes insomnia, as well as the disruption to a person's sleeping pattern such as a change of shift at work.

Although most people would prefer taking pills and proceed into medication to aid them in their sleep, there are also alternative and natural ways of dealing with insomnia. One very familiar and common way of making it easier to sleep is by drinking warm milk before heading to sleep. Now some might be skeptical about this, but milk is basically been used for a long time to aid sleep. There is a scientific explanation to this. Milk contains the amino acid tryptophan which acts like a mild tranquilizer.

Some also noted that its easier to sleep when you exercise hard before going to bed. This one makes sense since your body will be pretty tired and must need to rest after exercising vigorously thus makes you more inclined to sleep. Some methods of getting sleep faster is avoiding mentally engaging activities as well as exposing your eyes to light before going to sleep. Of course by avoiding mentally engaging activities, you are not "starting up" your brain's engines.

Another method used for a long time, is by using aromatherapy and taking a warm bath. The key to this is making the body relaxed, free from discomforts, and more inclined to sleep. Using lavender oils, or any other relaxing oils is just fine. A good way of doing this is by taking a warm bath before sleep. You can add you're favorite aromatherapy product, coupled with the essential oil while listening to relaxing music of your choice.

Autor: Elizabeth Boardman

The San Francisco Bath Salt Company's slogan is "Relaxing The World One Bath at a Time". We specialize in luxury bath salts for skincare and relaxation with the overall goal of improving health through bathing. Our website is a powerful resource of information about bathing and contains many more articles and our daily bathing blog. for more information visit http://www.sfbsc.com or to visit our complete resource section on bathing goto http://www.sfbsc.com/resource-center

Added: July 24, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/How-To-Naturally-Cure-I~

Sleeping Pills. Insomnia Cure Or Bad Medicine?

Sleeping disorders are more and more common in today's adult population. For complex reasons such as long working hours, and other economic stresses, it is now estimated that almost 25% of the adult population suffers some kind of sleeping difficulty. Slumber issues without the necessary insomnia cures can wreak havoc on a person's life by making them visibly irritable at work, by not allowing their body a chance to revitalize itself, and by making it increasingly harder to stay alert during the day - especially when driving long distances or performing otherwise complex and potentially dangerous tasks.

As pharmacological treatments evolve, people now turn to prescription sleeping aids as a quick "get it and forget it" fix to assist them in getting the sleep they need. Taken correctly and as prescribed, there is no reason to believe they can’t be extremely beneficial to you. Taken habitually however, or over-medicating from the prescribed dosage, these medications can have extremely hazardous side effects that can enhance the insomnia, instead of providing relief. Below you will find a comparison between the risks and benefits of prescription sleeping aids so that you can be well informed and well armed before heading off to your doctor.

The Benefits of Sleeping Aids

For starters you need to understand that sleeping pills are not bad. They are not spawned from the lab of some evil corporation, and they do not necessarily cause you to become a drooling, addicted mess. They also do not - necessarily - cause hangover-like symptoms, which is a very common complaint. Having said that, they can be all of that and more, when not used correctly. The truth is that prescription sleeping pills have helped millions of American every year who suffer from sleeping disorders, such as transient and chronic insomnia. It is a multi-million dollar a year business because they are an effective - but temporary - relief.

Sleep inducing meds are used to slow down the neurological activity in your brain, enabling you to fall asleep much easier then you would naturally. They depress the central nervous system which inevitably causes the sleepy feelings to take hold and facilitate unconsciousness. It is said that with people with strong neural activity routinely find it harder to fall away to slumber, some regularly complaining of chronic bouts of insomnia. Sleeping pills are extremely effective at slowing down this neural activity - thus inducing sleep.

When you’re taking sleep medications you are most likely to fall asleep, in most cases, within 15 to 30 minutes - with the added benefit of preventing frequent awakenings during the night. These awakenings exist as a form of insomnia in and of itself, and the condition can be just as frustrating as the initial onset of insomnia. This is normally because it is harder to get back to sleep after waking abruptly. Having said that, sometimes frequent awakenings are a result of other medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, and worth a proper diagnosis.

The Risks of Sleeping Pills

As effective as these medications can be, they still come with side effects. It's a virtual guarantee that over time your body will begin to build a tolerance to them, leaving you to require consistently higher dosages to get the same result you experienced from the initial administration.

One psychological component of dependency to sleep medication is that you begin to feel it's impossible to sleep without the drug. This is based within the physiology of the drug's co-relation to your ever increasing tolerance. At this point the exacerbated condition becomes "hyper insomnia", and will continue until your body has successfully weaned from the medication.

In effect, by treating the symptom of insomnia and not the cause of said condition, you will have become more and more dependent on an increasingly less effective drug. This is why treating insomnia with prescription pills is normally used as strictly a short term solution (between 3 and 5 days). The insomnia itself must be investigated with other diagnostic methods (such as a polysomnogram/ sleep study), for more healthy and appropriate treatments to begin.

Weaning from a dependence to sleeping pills can also cause feelings of depression, along with the aforementioned hyper insomnia. These medications were never meant to be taken long term, except in the most egregious cases, because the metabolism of the brain becomes less responsive to the effects, very quickly. The other withdrawal symptoms range from dry mouth, increased daytime drowsiness, and nausea. There are certain drugs now in development, that are said to have no quantifiable dependence/abuse side effects. One such medication is already on the market and is branded as Lunesta, otherwise known as Eszopiclone. While this new treatment shows promise, it's effectiveness and corresponding side effects are still being studied.

As you can see, prescription sleeping pills can be of great benefit to you - for short term treatment, or they can cause you more trouble then they are worth - if you don’t have the discipline to use them as directed. Visit Insomnia Cures if you feel like you need more information on sleeping pills, or for any questions or comments about the horrible condition of insomnia. Remember, your ultimate goal should be to become completely independent from prescription drugs, thus tackling the condition and not the symptom.

Insomnia Problems - Find Out EverythingYou Need To Know

Looking for some good insomnia information? Want to get those insomnia problems under control once and for all? Well then, you're in the right place, as you're about to learn some important facts about insomnia; including highly effective natural insomnia remedies.

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia can be caused by numerous things, most of which you wouldn't even think twice about. Some of the most common causes of insomnia are: uncomfortable environment (noise, room temperature, bed firmness, quantity of fresh air), work shift changes, stress, underlying illnesses, withdrawal from drugs and/or medications, depression, and a whole lot more. In today's world, it seems almost anything can lead to insomnia.

Insomnia Symptoms

There isn't a great deal of reliable insomnia information when it comes to identifying the symptoms of insomnia. Why not? Because insomnia symptoms are so incredibly similar to that of other disorders that it's quite difficult to accurately diagnose. However, here are a few of the more common insomnia symptoms that you'll likely notice:

- Exhaustion: A sincere feeling of not wanting to do anything. Everything seems to drain you of energy; be it getting up to go to the bathroom or just finishing the days work.

- Poor Memory: You have a brief recollection of events, but nothing remotely specific can come to mind.

- Poor Motor Skills: Speech, reaction time, critical thinking, you name it, it is all severely impaired. You can complete basic tasks and you might even be able to have a short conversation or two, but anything else is just too much for you to handle.

- Irritability: Everything annoys you. No matter who you're dealing with or what you're doing, you are annoyed.

Natural Remedies to Improve Insomnia Problems

When it comes to insomnia information, there is nothing more helpful than natural remedies for insomnia. Because of that fact, a few insomnia natural remedies have been listed below.

- Sleep in complete darkness. A dark room enables our bodies to produce a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin helps us to sleep more peacefully with fewer interruptions. Afraid of the dark? Get a small night light.

- Drink herbal tea before bed. A cub of herbal tea, which has strong relaxing and calming properties, right before bed will help out a great deal with your sleeping habits. Great herbal teas with sedative properties include passion flower, chamomile, valerian, and many others.

- Take a warm bath. A warm bath combined with natural oils (chamomile, lavender, marjoram, neroli, rose, jasmine, etc.) can be both soothing and calming, allowing you to achieve maximum relaxation much more quickly. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to go to sleep.

- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco: Caffeine is a stimulant which will simply keep you awake. Alcohol and tobacco, on the other hand, will actually upset your natural sleeping rhythm. Lessen your consumption of these during the day for better sleep at night. If it doesn't help, try eliminating them completely.

- Listen to sleep soundtracks. Specially composed soundtracks can help lull you to sleep in a matter of minutes. These soundtracks are relatively inexpensive and can be easily purchased online.

The above insomnia information should help you to understand your insomnia problems a bit more clearly. And, with help from the natural insomnia remedies above, you might just be able to sleep more peacefully at night.

Autor: Sean T Saunders

Do you want a guaranteed solution for insomnia -- one that will cure your sleeplessness once and for all? If so, you should visit http://www.SleepTracks.org, the one and only website that can guarantee an insomnia cure for you.

Added: July 23, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Insomnia-Problems---Fin~

I wish I was a better blogger and updated more, but I spend most of my days at home, reading. So there's not a lot to update about. I do appreciate the comments and my few followers, thanx guys!

Anyway, I was out this weekend... It's no secret that I enjoy dark music & subculture, so I was glad to put my black clothes back on for a party. It was the anniversary of Fresh From The Grave. I had a really great time and danced a lot. Unfortunately it's hard to take pictures there because of the smoke.

My lipstick was actually dark purple, but it shows black in the pictures.

Top: Toi&Moi

Skirt: Zara

Shoes: Asos

My bf snapped a picture of me on the dancefloor :)

There was also cake to celebrate the anniversary

This weekend I'll be at Gothic Festival, there's a pretty great line-up, so I'm very excited!

Tea to Relieve Insomnia

There are several herbs that are known for their relaxation and sleep-inducing properties. Maybe one of the better known of these herbs is chamomile. Chamomile has been used for centuries as an herb that helps people relax. Relaxation is, of course, the key ingredient of going to sleep, as well as staying asleep throughout the night.

Chamomile tea can be purchased either in the form of tea bags or a loose dried herb suitable for making tea. The idea of making all tea is to boil water first and then to add the tea and let it steep. The longer any tea steeps, the stronger it will become. Usually steeping for about five minutes is sufficient for making chamomile tea that will provide the desired effect of inducing sleep.

Valerian is another herb that is also known for inducing sleep. Unlike other sleep-inducing herbs, however, valerian must be taken as a tea on a regular basis rather than just on the occasional sleepless night. Valerian root is the part of the plant that is used for making tea that has sleep-inducing properties. Tea made with fresh valerian root needs to be steeped at least 10 minutes. You should drink a cup or valerian tea once every day for it to be effective.

Lavender is an herb that can be made into a tea, and the essential oil of lavender can be used in a warm bath or in carrier oil and massaged into the skin. The essential oil of lavender should never be used to make tea. Tea needs to be made from either fresh or dried flower petals only. Even makers of baby products now make a baby bath product that contains a very small amount of the essential oil lavender. The product is recommended for use in bathing a baby just before putting him/her to bed.

Autor: Jeff Austin

For more important information on getting a good night's sleep be sure to visit www.sleep-good.com where you will find advice and tips on insomnia restless leg, sleep apnea, snoring, and more

Added: July 21, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Tea-to-Relieve-Insomnia~

Insomnia Symptoms, How to Cure Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the sleeping disorders which you are not able to sleep persistently. You might have a perception that people who suffer from insomnia are those who are having mental illnesses and old people. Surprisingly, insomnia affects all of us no matter how old you are. However, insomnia does happen more frequently among women than men. In this article, we will discuss some basic information about insomnia.

Anyone who has ever suffered from insomnia knows how miserable it can be to not be able to sleep. In most cases insomnia is the result of poor sleep habits. Fortunately there are a few simple things that you can do to improve your sleep habits and to beat insomnia.

Symptoms of insomnia are difficulty in falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the night, waking up too early in the morning, feeling tired upon waking, sleepiness and sleep attacks during the day, irritability and problems with concentration or memory

We are living hectic lives in a hectic world and the reasons that most people are kept from sleeping are innumerable. There are means to help people sleep more, other than just sleeping aid medication but unfortunately some people only rely on the medication and are sometimes so desperate to fall asleep that they could run the risk of overdosing and never waking up! Needless to say, you should be very careful if you use any type of sleep aid medicine.

Cucumber helps to calm and cool the liver. It is beneficial for treating some specific kinds of sleeping disorders. Persons who complain that they face difficulty in falling asleep can largely benefit by taking cucumber in the night.

Refrain from inappropriate or untimely consumption of food and beverages containing caffeine, nicotine or alcohol. Those three are notoriously depriving many of better sleep. Most people habitually don"t give much thought about how the choice of food and drinks can affect their sleep. So just exercise more care to what you eat and drink as well as when you eat and drink and you would have less trouble going to sleep and staying asleep.

Proper use of Valerian Root is known to be quite effective for promoting ease of relaxation and quality sleep. This is certainly one natural cure for insomnia option worthwhile trying. But keep this in mind. One has to be fully aware of known possible side effects being experienced by certain users that are attributed to the use of Valerian Root.

Don"t like milk? Drink herbal teas like passionflower, skullcap, lavender, valerian, California poppy, St. Johns Wart, hops and chamomile which all have sedative properties that can help your mind and body ready itself for sleep. Most can be found at health food stores and should be sipped about an hour before turning in at night.

Autor: Peter Hutch

Read about Natural Cures. Also read about Shatavari and Female Libido

Added: July 19, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Insomnia-Symptoms--How-~

Insomnia Treatment - Treatments of Sleep Disorder

We presently live in a very fast-paced world where energy and speed are valued commodities. It's no wonder that people try to cram everything they can into a single day, ending up having to get by on very little or no sleep at night. Because of this kind of lifestyle, a lot of people end up being unable to sleep at night because they are used to leading a very hectic schedule.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder faced by millions, and they are constantly trying to find the best treatment for this. Though some of them are successful, others are not. This may depend largely on the clinic treatment that is chosen, and also on the type of insomnia that the person has. To get things right when a person has this disorder, one must always ensure that the disorder has first been diagnosed properly.

The type of insomnia treatment recommended will likely hinge on the actual cause of the insomnia. There are many causes and the insomnia treatment recommendations generally vary with each. Let's look at some of the causes and the potential insomnia treatments that can go along with them.

The type of insomnia treatment that works best depends on the reason behind the insomnia itself. This sleep disorder can be caused by many different things. For some people, it is a physical condition caused by hormonal or chemical imbalances. For others, insomnia is caused by emotional or mental issues.

Insomnia or lack of quality sleep is divided into three categories based mainly on the duration of the problem - transient, intermittent and chronic. Transient and intermittent are temporary conditions and most of the times, correct themselves with minimal informed effort. Alteration of life style habits that cause the problem should suffice. There are quite a few OTC drugs, mostly sedative antihistamines that are useful.

If your insomnia is still fairly mild, you may be able to treat the problem on your own at home. This might include changes to your routine, like avoiding a heavy meal or strenuous exercise too close to bedtime. You may try following a regular evening schedule that includes a late night bath or other methods for relaxing.

Medication treatment for insomnia is usually prescribed by physicians but there are still some over-the-counter sleeping pills you can take. However, it is best advised that you consult a sleep expert to make sure that you are not just worsening your condition. Most of the time, the physician will try to find out the underlying ailment or disease that could be causing your insomnia. This is what you have to cure for you to get back to your normal sleeping routine.

Another natural insomnia treatment you can try is yoga. As being mentioned above, insomnia can be brought about by stress and yoga is a very good stress reliever. However, consider only yoga poses that do not strain your muscles too much.

Autor: Peter Hutch

Read about Natural Remedies. Also read about Arthritis Pain Relief and Back Pain Relief

Added: July 17, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Insomnia-Treatment---Tr~

Easy Ways to Cure Insomnia Naturally

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Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Wearing:

Old Police cape (not mine)

Thrifted jacket & Guess by Marciano shoes

So here are a few promised shots from the "header" shoot. They're actually quiet old, back from January. But you know, some photographers are kinda slow :)

I'm still waiting for pictures from 3 different shoots... and I hate waiting.

Why You'll Never Hear About Herbal Remedies For Insomnia From Your Doctor

With due respect to doctors, they don't know much about herbal remedies for insomnia because they haven't been trained in them. Doctors are pursued daily by representatives from the big drug companies who provide them with incentives such as free samples. It's not in a doctor's best interests to suggest natural remedies

It's not only doctors either, a lot of people believe herbs for insomnia to be a watered down solution compared to chemical sleep medication. This is because the benefits of insomnia herbs are not widely advertised, unlike the latest drug release. Why? Because there's just no money in it.

This is rather unfortunate because there are many who could benefit with more and better information about herbal remedies for insomnia, but they're not being informed. For instance when I ask people with sleep disorders if they would consider trying herbs for insomnia they'll say thing like:

"I'd better wait 'till I'm on vacation before trying them." "Er, can you buy them at the drug store?" "That's for elderly people, isn't it? Like aunts and that?" "Don't you have to take them for ages before they work?" "Aren't those herbs toxic?"

The truth is if you are having trouble sleeping, herbal remedies for insomnia are as effective as chemical sleeping pills. If fact they are so much better because you won't become "hooked" on them. Most herbs for insomnia are safe to take over the longer term without you having to worry about becoming addicted. The possible exception here is valerian which can have withdrawal effects.

Here are some safer herbs for insomnia you may not have come across before. However they have been proven to be very effective.

Nux Vomica - this is a wonderful herb for those type A personalities who tend to wake up in the middle of the night, planning all those things they have to do! Nux Vomica can really help such people to take a deep breath and relax.

Scutellaria laterifolia - A herbal nerve tonic for a fatigued nervous system, Scutellaria laterifolia is also a gentle sedative. It has beneficial effect on stress, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness and anxiety.

Passiflora incarnata - If you have a tendency to worry, Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as Passionflower, is recommended as a soothing antidote to insomnia.

Coffea - is a homeopathic medication and targets sleeplessness due to an over-active mind. If you're agitated or physically restless, Coffea is the answer.

Herbal remedies for insomnia are safe, non addictive and can have an almost immediate effect when blended together in their recommended amounts.

However remember herbs are potent substances so either seek the advice of a professional herbalist or naturopath, or obtain your herbs already blended from a reliable source.


Autor: Wendy Owen

To discover more about obtaining and using herbal remedies for insomnia, visit Natural Sleep Medications Wendy Owen (Dip. Holistic Health Therapy) is a sleep researcher and writer with a passion for herbal and homeopathic remedies.

Added: July 14, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Why-You-ll-Never-Hear-A~

How to Cure Insomnia

In order to be at our best we generally need between seven and eight hours of good sleep each night.

But with the modern day stressful life the numbers of people with sleep problems are getting worse. Over one third of the population regularly has problems sleeping and one in ten have chronic insomnia. This is where there are problems falling asleep, waking in the middle of the night or waking too early. Where you consistently have problems functioning the next day.

There are actually a number of reasons leading to sleep problems. The most common causes are stress, worry, and depression. In addition medical problems could be the cause, or pain, some medications have an effect on your sleep, over use of alcohol or caffeine.

To resolve the problem it's important therefore to find the specific cause. It makes sense to discus your sleep issue with your family physician to get any medical problems treated first. Your physician can also prescribe medications that will help anxiety and depression.

If you feel that your sleep problems are caused by stress, worry or even depression then it makes sense to talk to a psychologist or counselor. There are some good programs that have been proved to decrease levels of stress, anxiety and depression. This in turn will improve your quality of sleep.

A psychologist can give you techniques to help you relax and ease the stress away. Psychologists generally have a range of other behavioral strategies to help reduce your sleeping problems. About 75% of people with insomnia report significantly improved sleep after completing this type of psychological treatment.

Family physicians regularly prescribe hypnotic medications that help people to sleep. These do help individuals who are going through a particularly stressful period. However these medications should only be used for a short period as they are become addictive. They can make your simple sleep problem a lot more difficult to resolve. They also become less effective if you use them over longer periods of time.

In addition some of these medicines will cause feelings of drowsiness and lead to difficulties in concentrating the next day. Over the counter sleep supplements are not always reliable solutions and are often just a waste of money as they simply don't work.

Sleep Medicines can help you catch up on some good sleep but don't by themselves fix the issue. They would need to be used alongside some other treatment or program that will resolve the actual cause. Where the underlying problem is successfully treated then the sleep problems will disappear too.

In summary, sleeping medication can be helpful only as a short term 'fix' but don't actually solve any underlying problem, whereas psychological treatments are effective in the long-term but may take a while to work.


Autor: Matthew Bettison

To find out more about Sleep Problems and Insomnia, the problems it can cause and how to overcome it then visit >= http://www.BestInsomniaRemedies.com

Added: July 12, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/How-to-Cure-Insomnia/54~

Summer feeling

Dress, shoes & tights: H&M

Brooch: Vivienne Westwood

The weather has been treating us well the last few weeks, so I finally could start to wear some summer clothes. But it's already raining again, I hate this bad weather! I wish I could go to a warm country for a few weeks...

The sales have started here, and I've been shopping my ass off. All these low prices are irresistible!

I hope you, guys, are enjoying the summer!

Hypnosis For Insomnia

Are you getting into bed near the time that everyone else is getting up? It might be cold comfort to know that you are among the 20 million Americans who endure insomnia. If a groggy head, dark circles and nights spent lying awake have become commonplace for you, a hypnosis insomnia program could bring the relief you need.

No doubt you believe you have tried everything to fall asleep, including a stiff drink, over-the-counter-sleep aids or even highly addictive prescription sleeping pills. All lead to the same end: You develop a tolerance, your "sleep" is not restful and the next morning, you felt drugged and lethargic. Hypnosis insomnia therapy can bring safe, effective sleep without side effects.

Many people wrongly believe that hypnosis is sleep. But effective hypnosis insomnia programs will only bring results if you are awake while in a deep state of relaxation. In this state, your unconscious is more open and accepting to guidance. In the most successful programs, post-hypnotic suggestions are given to you to remove tension and create a positive expectation of restful sleep. NLP for a sleep disturbance is generally effective after the first session because we are inclined to get what we expect, so you will sleep soundly all through the night.

After thoroughly relaxing, the next step in hypnotic insomnia therapy is discovering what induces you to suffer from a sleep disturbance. Another vital part of a hypnosis insomnia course entails looking small changes to your evening ritual that will have the most significant effect on your ability to quickly fall asleep for restful and sound slumber all night long.

At the center of a successful NLP insomnia program lies Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. Powerful NLP techniques can be used to "flip" things around in the unconscious so that thoughts and experiences that previously prompted stressful feelings will actually cause relaxation instead.

Alleviating stress is paramount for a NLP insomnia treatment to be effective, and NLP visualizations can instruct the unconscious to automatically get rid off disturbing thoughts and feelings that create stress. These peaceful feelings stay with you through the day so that when it is time for bed, you can fall asleep quickly and rest throughout the entire night without disturbance.

In addition to using effective NLP techniques in NLP insomnia programs, Ericksonian Hypnotic Metaphors are also worthwhile. Basically, a qualified hypnotherapist creates a metaphor, or a parable, that directs your unconscious to subdue your thoughts-especially at night-to get rid of any fear or anxiety about lying awake.

To permanently conquer a sleep disturbance, learning to relax with self-hypnosis is required, but it is not always practical to listen to a CD or watch a DVD. Learning how to give yourself post-hypnotic suggestions anytime, anywhere to trigger deep relaxation can be accomplished easily. That's right-you can successfully use self-hypnosis insomnia suggestions any time you need them.

Hypnosis insomnia programs cannot harm you in any way. A hypnotherapist cannot get you to say or do anything that you do not want to. You remain completely in control, and there is no "hypnotized feeling" that you have to shake off. In fact, the worst that could possibly happen is that you might fall asleep for thirty minutes or so. That's the point of hypnosis for insomnia in the first place!

Hypnotherapy instructions for insomnia can be directives to the unconscious to draw on pleasant fantasies and memories to create pleasant dreams and relaxation. You will feel tranquil at bedtime and have a positive expectation of sound and restful sleep. And that positive expectation will help you fall asleep quickly, and the dreams will make you sleep soundly and restfully all night long.

Additionally, NLP programs are highly effective; it has been reported that most people are hypnotizable to a greater or lesser extent. However, those with less than a 70 IQ or those who are in an active state of psychosis generally are not hypnotizable. Most senile people are also difficult or impossible to hypnotize. Like any move to improve the quality of your life, your motivation is imperative for success.

Everyone responds uniquely to each type of hypnosis, so be sure your NLP insomnia program offers several different methods, like NLP and Ericksonian Metaphors, to bring you the results that you are seeking. Most NLP insomnia program participants remark their sleep issues are alleviated by hypnosis, and insomnia simply fades away like a bad dream.

Autor: Alan B. Densky, CH

Alan B. Densky, CH has been a practicing hypnotherapist for thirty yrs. He's done extensive research on sleep disturbances, and created an effective hypnosis insomnia program. Visit the Neuro-VISION hypnotherapy website to enjoy his Free hypnosis videos, and hypnosis article index.

Added: July 8, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Hypnosis-For-Insomnia/2~

The Elite Insomnia Hormone: Melatonin

Insomnia is commonly linked with a natural hormone produced by the body. This hormone is known as melatonin, and it makes the body feel physically tired and 'encourages' the sleep cycle. It is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. This insomnia hormone is also made synthetically and is used as an effective treatment for insomnia.

Melatonin: The Top Insomnia Hormone

Melatonin works in a series of ways to reduce the effects of insomnia. It has been proven to decrease body temperature, suppress stimulating hormones produced by the body, and promote relaxation. This soothing affect is the major attraction to the hormone.

The body responds to darkness or bedtime by producing melatonin to make us tired and go to sleep. However, there is another cycle at work here: the body needs sleep for it to function properly.

The Major Issue With Insomnia

If your body is producing an insufficient amount of melatonin and suffering from insomnia as a result, the body is at risk for much more serious problems. Sleep is necessary to rejuvenate the body and mind. Without enough sleep, it is far too difficult to stay alert and focused throughout the day. Lack of sleep also slows reaction time, which is a typical justification for car and machinery accidents.

When a person is suffering from insomnia, their body's immune system is also weakened. High-quality sleep is vital in building a strong immune system. This causes many insomniacs to be sick more often than most, too.

How Can Melatonin Help?

Melatonin is produced less as we age. That is the main reason insomnia is common in adults than in children. This steady reduction of melatonin can be supplemented by a person taking the insomnia hormone in pill form. By increasing the body"s levels of melatonin, a person can then overcome the insomnia because the body is responding naturally again to the cues form the hormone to induce sleep.

Melatonin is not a cure-all for insomnia, though. In some insomnia patients, Melatonin is not the cause of their sleeplessness. In this case, then melatonin supplements might not help at all.

The insomnia hormone Melatonin is essential to a person's sleep cycles. A person with low melatonin production will not only have problems sleeping, but can also get sick more often, can have more accidents, and usually has problems functioning during the day. This is why it is very important to keep melatonin levels constant. The medical community has worked very hard to create herbal synthetic Melatonin insomnia hormone supplements for this reason, and they very well could be the answer you've been looking for!

Autor: Benjamin Edwards

Wondering where to get a Melatonin supplement that's totally safe? Check out Melatrol: a doctor-recommended herbal insomnia remedy. Sign up for your free 14-part insomnia eCourse at http://TiredOfInsomnia.com!

Added: July 5, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/The-Elite-Insomnia-Horm~

Conventional Medical Treatment for Insomnia

Description

Insomnia is an extremely frustrating condition, during which normal sleep patterns are consistently interrupted-either when falling asleep, in the middle of the night, or very early in the morning. One, two, or three consecutive sleep deprived nights can make you less alert, easily confused, and unusuaUllifatigued. Four or more terfere with motor skills, physical coordination, and problem-solving abilities. It also can make you moody, prone to depression, and susceptible to infectious illnesses, such as the common cold and flu. In some people, prolonged sleeplessness can even cause hallucinations, psychosis, and delusions.

Insomnia is a very personalized condition; it can be caused by a multitude of factors, including job stress, money concerns, depression, alcohol or drug use, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, jet lag, caffeine, sleep deprivation due to having a newborn infant, and trying to sleep in a noisy environment.

Signs and Symptoms

Difficulty falling asleep

Inability to fall asleep after waking up in the middle of the night

Waking up earlier than usual

Anxiety over whether or not you will be able to fall-and remain-asleep

Daytime sleepiness

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you have not had a good night's sleep for four or more days in a row, visit your physician, who will examine you to ensure that a physical ailment, such as hyperthyroidism or sleep apnea, is not the cause of your insomnia. Insomnia is also a symptom of depression, which your doctor also may explore. If a medical or psychological cause of your insomnia is determined, it must be addressed in order for your usual sleep patterns to resume.

Often, there is no underlying medical factor behind a person's sleep difficulties. Instead, the problem may be rooted in poor "sleep hygiene." Sleep hygiene means following a fixed routine of activities that the body associates with sleep on set, including adhering to set sleep and waking times (even on weekends), avoiding stimulating activities (such as exercising, watching an emotional movie, or reading an upsetting book) within three hours of bedtime, avoiding all stimulants (such as caffeine) within six hours of retiring, creating a noise-free environment for sleep, and ensuring that the bedroom is a comfortable temperature. Other sleep hygiene measures include eliminating daytime naps and setting aside time during the day to attend to (or simply keep a journal of) the worries that keep you awake at night.

Autor: Brain

Read out for Home remedies. Check out green tea and body mass index calculator

Added: July 4, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/Conventional-Medical-Tr~

All about Insomnia Symptoms, Tips, Relief and Treatment

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among all ages, especially among senior citizens. The patient should remember or write down all the insomnia symptoms he/she experiences and discuss with the physician to help in making a correct diagnosis. The most typical of all insomnia symptoms is difficulty in sleeping. Encounters with anxiety and/or depression are two main symptoms associated with insomnia. Insomnia symptoms include poor concentration and short memory. Insomniac people usually awake prematurely during sleep and have trouble falling asleep again. Insomniacs feel irritability without any obvious cause. It is especially experienced during the day. People suffering from insomnia frequently experience decreased alertness and mental sluggishness.

Insomnia symptoms may last for a little or longer time, depending on the type of insomnia. In case of Transient Insomnia, the symptoms last for a few nights. In Short-Term Insomnia, the symptoms stay for two to three weeks. If they last more than three weeks, the patient is suffering from Chronic Insomnia. Health experts also sometimes distinguish between primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is characterized by symptoms of difficulty in falling asleep, waking several times during sleep, and fatigue. These symptoms last for a month and has unknown cause. In secondary insomnia, there is a known underlying medical condition. Depression is major cause of secondary insomnia.

To diagnose the condition of sleeplessness as insomnia, the physician makes sure that the symptoms are not being caused by other sleep disorders or other disease or side effects of any medication. Along with the symptoms of insomnia, other disorders may be detected in the same patient; these include mania, depression, phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Help for Insomnia

It is often possible to fight insomnia with simple home remedies; however, when the insomnia crosses two weeks and you start feeling groggy, disoriented, acutely irritated and totally lost, it is time you go for professional insomnia help.

The treatments available for insomnia are varied and very efficient. Reaching at the right diagnosis is quite problematic, which involves a battery of tests and long-drawn assessment studies. This is why people usually avoid asking for professional insomnia help unless it becomes too much to bear otherwise. Most of the times, the homemade cures will dramatically improve your condition; however, in case you still experience this problem, it could be an indication of some serious health problem which would necessitate a doctor's opinion. You should always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. A timely medical intervention may save your life.

Tips for Insomnia

Insomnia tips no 1 - Do not sleep or even take a cat nap (those 10-20 minutes forty winks), if you are prone to insomnia attacks. Maintain strict timings both for sleep and for your meals.

Insomnia tips no 2 - Eat your dinner at least four hours ahead of your bed time. For example, if you normally retire at 10:30 pm, have your dinner at 6:30 - 7:00 pm latest. Often insomnia is aggravated by digestive problems, and hence, it is best to avoid the problem altogether.

Insomnia tips no 3 - Avoid any drink that influences sleep, such as coffee in any form, alcohol, and even tea (unless it is medicated). In case you must have your regular cup of coffee, at least ensure that you take it before a minimum of four hours from your bedtime.

Insomnia tips no 4 - Introduce daily exercise in your routine. In case you are not too fond of physical exercise, you can simply take a walk for about 30 minutes daily; try to gradually increase it to one hour or so for best results.

Insomnia tips no 5 - If you find that you cannot sleep, do not fight it. Sleep usually comes after your body relaxes completely. The best thing to do is get up from the bed and do something that you enjoy (reading, listing to music, writing letters to dear ones, etc) aiming to relax your mind and body.

Treatment for Insomnia

Majority of people suffering from sleep disorders turn to pills and medications. This proves to be working at first, but gradually some problems arise that need serious consideration before one starts with a particular kind of sleeping pills or medication. These days, both over the counter medications and prescriptions pills are used for insomnia treatment.

Over the counter medications for insomnia are usually ineffective in log term insomnia treatment. First of all, they do not ensure the quality of sleep enjoyed by healthy people. They give about 5 % duration of deep sleep while in healthy sleep this duration is 10 % to 25 %. Secondly, over the counter drugs for insomnia mostly work by the action of antihistamines (anti-allergic chemicals) present in them. These include chemicals like diphenhydramine citrate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and doxylamine succinate. While antihistamines do cast a sedating effect, they are not to be used by people with prostate problems, angina, heart problems, and urinary problems. Antihistamines can add to the intensity of these conditions. Finally, over the counter drugs have a number of side effects like: drowsiness and dizziness (that may remain for twenty four hours), memory lapses, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

Various types of medications, collectively called hyptonics, are prescribed for insomnia treatment. Hypnotics generally fall in three categories: benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. Most of the health experts agree on using insomnia medications for a short period only. In all cases of using over the counter drugs or prescribed medications, it is important that the patient educate him/herself well on the possible side effects.

Autor: Cindy Heller

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit pet insurance plan to learn more about pet health insurance marketing plan and florida pet health insurance.

Added: July 1, 2009
Source: http://articlerich.com/Article/All-about-Insomnia-Symp~